Drug deaths discussed at Executive meeting

Sinn Féin MLA Maeve McLaughlin has said the Attorney General has been asked to look at legislation to ban so-called 'legal high' drugs.

Speaking after the deaths of 20 people as a result of taking unclassified 'legal high' drugs was discussed at today's Executive meeting, the health committee chair said;

"The deaths of 20 people as a result of these so-called 'legal high' drugs is a major public health issue.

"I asked for this to be raised at the Executive today to explore what options are available to the Justice Minister to ban this toxic drug and remove it from our streets.

"I understand both the health minister and the justice minister were lobbied on this issue and the Attorney General has been asked to look at the legislation to see what can be done to ban these substances.

"We have a duty to explore every avenue to keep people safe from the scourge of the misuse of drugs, both legal and illegal."